Skyrocketing Insurance Costs Change Rules Of Amateur Sports

June 30, 1991|by CONSTANCE WALKER, The Morning Call

Besides limiting the exposure that children get to certain sports -- Olympic divers and gymnasts many times get their first taste of the sport at public facilities -- the problem has made more people reluctant to volunteer to coach or officiate.

Sports officials in the Lehigh Valley said the situation is not that drastic here. However, everyone admitted that the rules of the game have changed because of insurance concerns.

"When I first started coaching 35 years ago, a coach was everything -- trainer, mother, father, coach, you name it," said Keith Newhard, Dieruff High School's athletic director. "Now, we've started hiring full-time, certified trainers to take care of the kids and more schools are doing the same."

Although some areas are experiencing a shortage of volunteer coaches for youth leagues, the Lehigh Valley is not one of them. But, more and more league and club coaches are taking courses to become certified, mainly because affiliation with national associations usually includes low-cost liability insurance, said Luther Mory, director of recreation for the City of Allentown.

Because city fields are insured by the city, the recreation department does not require teams to have liability insurance.

While Mory said that most teams have insurance because they are part of a league, not every league has insurance.

Richard Slattery, coordinator of Allentown's city leagues, which include baseball, softball and basketball, said liability insurance "doesn't even cross our mind because it is far too expensive."

According to school officials, most districts require proof of insurance for anyone wanting to use their fields -- from football teams to drum corps.

Emphasis on conditions at facilities also has become much more of a priority. "In the past, if there was a hole in the field, maintanence would get to it in a couple of days," Mory said. "But now, we get to it immediately. There is more of an emphasis to cover all bases."

Reffie said that as a soccer coach, he checks the fields, nets and goal posts, and makes sure both teams have a first aid kit before each game.

"When I was playing, we didn't have a first aid kit in sight," he said. "Directors of these organizations are very insurance-minded. This year, for the first time, we bought protective goalie gear. I think we will eventually put pads on the goal posts."

Area school districts also have started to show parents films about sports because "we can't assume parents know the risks that come with a sport," said Kish, of Allen High School. "It's a different era. Fifteen years ago, football was the only sport schools had blanket insurance on. Now all sports are insured."

Officials have not been left out of the liability game. For many sports the referees are being told by their national organizations not to physically assist injured players.

"We are instructed by the U.S. Soccer Federation to stop play, ask players if they are all right and call the coach onto the field if they aren't -- but we do not touch injured players because of liability," said Pete Csongradi, an official with the Lehigh Valley Youth Soccer League. "I usually stand a good 10 yards away and stay out of the scene."

Insurance industry officials said it is difficult to measure how much premiums have increased because it differs for each sport and geographic area.

Despite the fact that Northwest Connie 791-1641; york 717-845-5005

ern Youth Athletic Association in northwestern Lehigh County has not had a claim filed against it for several years, the group just received notice that its premiums would be increased for the fourth consecutive year. Last year's premiums already were 73 percent higher than in 1988, said Dave Hunsicker, association treasurer.

The association includes soccer, football, cheerleading, baseball and softball for boys and girls 6 to 18 years old.

Hunsicker said more families are unable to afford membership dues for their children, but grants are available because the association receives some financial assistance from United Way. The teams also hold their own fund-raisers to keep costs down, he said.

Little League baseball teams also have seen a dramatic increase in dues, primarily to cover insurance costs. Six years ago, the cost of liability coverage for local programs was $75. This year it is $695, although it was as high as $795 last year, according to officials at Little League world headquarters in Williamsport, Pa.

Insurance for some sports, such as rugby, is becoming unaffordable, said insurer Murray.

High insurance costs in sports "certainly is a problem," said Wayne Dubbs, president of Bartos Group Inc., a Bethlehem-based insurance company. "It cuts down on the sponsor's ability to carry out the activities he wants."

For example, during the past few years, organizations such as the Boy Scouts have restricted activities such as karate, club football and rodeo events because of liability insurance, according to Boy Scout newsletters.